Mobile Sensory Vehicle for Nairn and beyond

Would you like to help change the life of a child with Autism forever?

The Highlands of Scotland are remote and beautiful and one of the few unspoilt places left in Britain today. However, this beauty has its drawbacks.

I'm Jon and I have been working with children and young adults with Autism for over 25 years, most recently in and around Nairn on the stunning Moray Firth. Parents of the children I support often say to me, “I wish we had better access to......” followed by a huge list of needs.

One of the services on their extensive wish-list is access to a sensory space, a place where their child can relax, where their minds and bodies can calm and make sense of an often overwhelming and confusing world, a place of tranquil peace, where time stands still.

As you can imagine these services are few and far between, making them a real challenge to access, which in turn adds yet more stress onto parents already overloaded lives, where balancing family time, money, care and work are an all too common daily issue.

So, I thought, why not take the sensory space to them?

The obvious answer is to buy a 'welfare van', also known as a 'mess van', commonly seen on our roads with companies such as Balfour Beaty, SSE and Network Rail. These come with many great features already fitted, such as a small kitchen, seating, hot/cold water, heating, lighting and electrics. They also have a large storage area at the rear, ideal for conversion into the sensory space.



The sensory space would be fitted out with individually child controllable lighting, multiple projection effects, bubble tubes and sound system. It would also have a soft-bed, bean-bags and colour-changing fibreoptic carpets, walls and ceiling, creating a calm, warm, quiet space to relax young minds in. Access to the space would be made accessible to all with a wheelchair ramp.

The vehicle would not only house the sensory space but an activity and outdoor equipment area for bikes, kites, beach toys and tents, for the more active or older children/young adults. The eating area would double up as an indoor space for art/craft, play and gentle learning, or just for eating and drying out...as it's not always sunny here in Scotland!  

Now a project of this kind is not for the faint of heart. As you can imagine a vehicle and sensory equipment is very expensive and will require what I consider a large amount of money, £15k being the target.

So what would £15k get us? Well not a new vehicle for sure, but one that could be kitted out with the equipment above which would be around £7k on its own. Naturally, any money over this budget would allow me to enhance the vehicle with additional equipment and facilities that would further benefit the children.

So can you help me?

Please donate any amount you can, however large or small. I’ll put your name or that of your business on the side of the vehicle if you wish me to.

As important as a donation is, please share this project with as many people as you can, no matter where in the world they are, as this will ensure these children and their parents get the support they very much need.
 
The question is, would you like to help me change the life of a child with Autism forever?

I think you would.

 
Thank you

 

Jon